California Today: A Congressional Outsider Becomes the Establishment Pick for Oakland Mayor

April 14, 2025, 9:31 a.m. Eastern time

Good morning. Here are the top stories from across California.

Today’s Top Story

Godofredo A. Vásquez/Associated Press

A Congressional Outsider Becomes the Establishment Pick for Oakland Mayor

Former Representative Barbara Lee entered the campaign for mayor of the Bay Area city as the favorite. But her main challenger has gained traction after positioning himself as the change candidate.

Newsom Tries to Understand ‘Bro Culture.’ Will It Change Him in the Process?

California’s governor has diagnosed one problem for Democrats — connecting with young men — and he sees his podcast as a way to address that. Other Democrats aren’t so sure.

After L.A. Fires, Edison Wants to Bury Power Lines in Altadena and Malibu

Southern California Edison is echoing calls from homeowners to move spark-prone electrical equipment underground. Company officials estimated the cost at more than $650 million.

The Menendez Brothers Became Model Prisoners. Will That Free Them?

More than 35 years after they killed their parents in Beverly Hills, Lyle and Erik Menendez are closer than ever to freedom. Meditation classes, mural painting and mentorship may help.

After a Rocky 90-Day Tenure, L.A.’s Recovery Czar Is Stepping Down

Steve Soboroff was picked by Mayor Karen Bass to lead the city’s rebuilding effort. But dust-ups over his compensation, the scope of his authority and more got in the way.

Stanford Protesters Charged With Felonies for Pro-Palestinian Occupation

Prosecutors filed felony charges on Thursday against 12 protesters, nearly all with ties to Stanford University, for breaking into an administration building and occupying it in 2024.

What’s Wrong With Apple?

Even before the threat of President Trump’s tariffs, there were questions about the company’s inability to make good on new ideas.

Tesla Halts Orders in China on U.S. Imported Models

An “order” button was removed from Tesla’s Chinese website after Beijing raised tariffs on U.S. imports in response to President Trump’s levies against the country.

Why America Should Sprawl

The word has become an epithet for garish, reckless growth — but to fix the housing crisis, the country needs more of it.

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A dark plate with a salad of napa cabbage and sliced cucumber, next to a browned chicken breast sliced into bite-size pieces.

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Ginger Chicken With Crisp Napa Salad

By Yewande Komolafe

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30 minutes

Makes 4 servings

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